Cover

Finally! I've had this album kicking around for over a year. I only had to make the journaling blocks and do my journaling but just couldn't figure out what I wanted to say. It finally came to me yesterday and I've enjoyed finishing this album. I swear, Jameson could've been a model when he was this age!
(To see the last page, you need to click on "Older Posts" at the bottom of this page.)

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Poor Picture, Good Lesson: PSA

Today, I learned a Life's Lesson For Dog Owners that, in my mind, bears repeating...

DO NOT store your dog's toothbrush side by side to yours.

A big THANK YOU to Dr. Fishpaw for the free toothbrush you gave me at my last appointment. I tucked it away for emergency use. I'd call this an emergency. Not life threatening but an emergency nonetheless.

Hey, cool, I don't think I've ever written that word before. Nonetheless will be the word of the day. See how many times you can appropriately use it today and report back ;)

Stella now has two toothbrushes and I'm really glad that I brush my teeth before I brush hers.

Another One Bites The Dust

My pocket camera up and quit this weekend. I was never very impressed with the quality of pictures it took so I was happy to order a new one. I was talked into a Canon and this is the one I ordered last night after doing some research. I was very impressed with the features and price until I found a site this morning that was selling it for $50 less than what I paid. However, I'd never heard of that place so maybe I was smart to order it from a site I trust. At any rate, it should be here next week along with a 4G memory card :)

Keeping Her Cool!

It apparently gets too hot in the bathroom for Stella when I'm getting ready in the mornings. To stay cool, she lays with her back up against the toilet.

The Hunters

Deb, Tom, Anna and Devin.
They went home full of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, sauteed green beans with bacon and onion, coleslaw, my Mom's homemade buns, cherry pie al a mode and with most of the leftovers. What a fun family to cook for! :)

Do You Think?

My floors desperately need to be vacuumed. I'm having the Hunters over for dinner tonight. My cleaning lady is coming on Wednesday. I'm not going to vacuum them so that I can pay her to vacuum clean floors. KWIM? Here's why I think that they're not going to notice my dirty floors.
The only way to make a flaky pie crust good enough to hold my homemade cherry pie filling.
LARD!!
A scoop of Haagen-Dazs vanilla bean ice cream and they won't even remember there were floors here :) Right?

Cherry Pie Filling:
2 cans red sour pitted cherries, partially drained
3 Tablespoons quick tapioca
3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup sugar
* Mix all ingredients and let set while making the pie crust. Pour over crust in deep dish pie pan. Top with second crust. Cut steam vents. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes and then turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake another 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.

"OK, I Give Up..."

"I'll lay by him for a picture but I'm keeping my eyes open."

The Only One

who really DOES play fetch with Stella!

"Please, Mama?"

"Don't let that kid you call Gage know I'm under here. Pretty please?"

Exhausted Grandma

Jameson spent Saturday night with me and Gage spent last night. Jameson and I were at McDonald's eating breakfast at 8:30AM and he was in Sunday school at 9:45. It's 7:08AM now and Gage and I will be heading out for McDonald's in about a half and hour, then he's getting dropped at Day Care. I plan to stop at the grocery store on my way home and will make a cherry pie for my company tonight before I pass out on the couch for a couple of hours. Whew, Gage is much more high maintenance than his brother! And Grandma is beat :)

A New Set Of Wheels :)

The deal is I'd buy bikes if they promised to wear helmets. Wonder how many times they'll forget? Oh, and the training wheels will be gone as soon as Karter puts the kick stands on. Neither of them need training wheels anymore.

Happy Birthday Grandma Roll!!

My Grandma is 101 today. Isn't she sweet??

So Sad

Karter's cousin lost his teenage son in a car accident last night. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child. My heart bleeds for them and for Karter, who was called to the accident and one of the first on the scene. My prayers are with Darin, Renae, and their daughter, and everyone who loved Tanner today as they struggle to accept his passing. I pray that everyone can find comfort in their memories of him.

My Stellar Doggy

Our groomer is on maternity leave so Stella's been getting a little grungy. Normally, she goes to visit Erica once week and comes home all fluffy and clean. After spending a week with Allison's boys and then puking this morning, she was smelling rather sour. She had a bath this afternoon and is all sweet smelling again. I'm looking forward to handing her over to Erica again next Thursday.

Flavor of the Month

Ice Cream... normally, I can take it or leave it. Until my good friend, Jane introduced to me this! Yeah, thanks Jane, I certainly am not needing to gain weight anymore. The first couple of times I bought it, I bought one pint. Today I got two. You never know when they're going to discontinue it and we might have another storm this weekend! :)

Typical Male

What is it with men and remotes? Is it a control thing? I definitely think it's genetic, look at how young this behavior starts. And this little sweetie did not learn it from his Dad who watches very little TV.

Just think, when he masters the one-handed approach, he can use his other hand to make sure his "package" is still where it belongs.

Room With A View

I live on a corner lot. We got 8 inches of snow yesterday and it started snowing again about an hour ago. The intersection outside my dining room picture window has a large dip in the middle and is full of snow. Yesterday, I watched at least 8 vehicles get stuck and pulled, shoveled or pushed out. I was talking to one of the girls on the phone while watching a youngish, buff guy (about 30-35) stop and shovel another driver out. I had to admire how well he filled out his Wranglers :) and I really enjoyed the view when he pointed his cute ass in my direction to shovel the snow out on this side of the vehicle.

Today, as I walked by the dining room window, I noticed another truck stuck in the snow. An oldish, fat guy (late 50's) gets out and starts shoveling. As he came around to this side of the truck, he points his fat ass in my direction and starts shoveling snow. Of course, he also suffers from plumber's butt! How can you not know when you have 10 inches of skin hanging out in this freezing weather?!!? It was nauseating but like a train wreck, I couldn't look away. On further inspection, I realized I know who this guy is. He worked on the railroad with Jim. I toyed with the idea of taking a picture and sending it to his wife with a note reading, "Recognize this ass??"

I think I'm going to keep my shades closed tomorrow.

Thomas James

Nothing better than a "throw your head back and belly laugh" is there? I'm not planning to tell anyone that he's really not throwing his head back, he just can't hold it up that well yet. Shhhhhhh.... :)

Hunters, Party of 4

For my girlfriend's birthday last month, I gave her a gift certificate good for dinner for 4 at Kathy's House of Home Cooking :) She has two unmarried children in their early 20's who also live in town.
I listed several menus and explained she needed to pick her favorite and call me for reservations 3-4 days in advance. For some reason she was hesitant to call first so I called her and gave her some dates I would be free to cook for them. She chose the 30th of March at 5:30PM and also chose "Grandma's Chicken Dinner" for their meal. I told her to think back to the 1950's when all the kids and grandkids went to Grandma and Grandpa's for Sunday dinner. She could expect that same dinner at my house on the 30th.

I am now planning the meal. It will feature fried chicken, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh green beans with bacon and onion, coleslaw, homemade buns, relish tray and cranberries. For dessert I will make a homemade cherry pie and serve it warm with Dairy Queen soft serve on top. I have a great recipe for cherry pie :)

I'll also have an open bar ;)
Can't wait!!

LOVE

Sarah loves babies. Sarah especially loves her babies. If it were possible, I think she'd have dozens of them. Sarah's a good Mommy.

Bulgogi

Since Jim died, I very rarely cook for myself. I cook for friends and family but very seldom for just me. I'm trying to change that. I love to cook and I'm a good cook. Plus, I've decided that I'm special enough to cook for just me :)

I made a menu plan, bought groceries and have about 7-8 meals planned for the coming days. I bought the groceries and chopped, sliced, marinated and froze things yesterday. Today is the first day of this plan and I had Beef Bulgogi for dinner. I haven't had it for years and it really hit the spot on a cold, blizzardy March day.

I love it if I can talk to Sarah or Allison on the phone while I eat but now that I have my Kindle and can read one-handed, I can at least read while I eat. I think part of the reason I don't cook for myself is because I hate eating by myself. There's something inherently wrong with sitting at the dining room table all alone. At least in my world.

After 3-1/2 years, I'm still learning how to be alone. It sucks but I'm adapting.

Mom & I

Dirty Dancing, The Classic Story On Stage

Sarah, Mom and I went to the Boston Opera House last Friday night and saw Dirty Dancing, the musical. It was awesome... thanks Sarah!
So, because they were predicting a storm for today, I went to the video store yesterday afternoon and rented the movie, Dirty Dancing.
And because you can never get enough Patrick Swayze, or at least I can't, I also rented Ghost. The weather did cooperate and it's storming to beat the band outside. I'm having a movie fest, complete with popcorn this afternoon :)

"I've had the time of my life.
No I never felt like this before.
Yes I swear it's the truth.
And I owe it all to you."

Making Cookies With Grandma

BTW

And this is probably obvious to everyone but:
Allison is copper, I'm brass and Sarah is silver :) Hmmmmm.... I wonder if that has any significance? What do you think Scizzz??

Shopping En Route

Every time I fly somewhere, I invariably browse the Sky Mall catalog. I've always admired this silver, copper and brass pin. What a cool way to signify the closeness my girls and I share. I finally ordered it this morning and can't wait to get it. It's only 1-1/4 inches high so it should look pretty darn cute on the breast pocket of my jean jacket :)

A Little Worse For The Wear

My plane was due in at midnight last night. We got ready to land in Minot and it was too foggy so they flew us to Fargo, where we sat in the plane until the powers that be decided that it was safe to return to and land in Minot. I got to bed at about 3:15AM and am beat! I'm anxious to go get some groceries, pick up my dog, come home, unpack and slouch around in jammies for the rest of the day.

MIA

I'll be leaving for Massachusetts in the morning to see my grandbabies. I'll be back late Sunday night so play nice while I'm gone :)

Little Jim

Both my girls have a Jim Junior. Gage is Allison's who always has an answer, is goofy and smart as a whip. And from all accounts David is filling those shoes in Sarah's family :) It's amazing to me the role genetics play. Gage wasn't even two when Jim died and David wasn't even thought of yet, however, they both have so many of Jim's mannerisms and quirks it's rather eery. It's so fun to watch but I'm sure glad it isn't my job to raise them :)

A Silver and a Bronze

Not bad for their first wrestling tournament :) Jameson surprised me with a pin almost immediately and Gage is quite a little scrapper. I hope their parents keep them in wrestling, I think they may have found their sport.

Shamelessly

Trying to entice Grandma into stopping over after work. Hey, Jane!! Is it working?? :)

Clockwise, Starting At The Top

In the domed container: A dozen Tuscan-sized cookies to share with his brother cuz they're Grandma's firsts and they love sugar cookies.

On the big, gold tray: Four layers of fourteen cookies each for Megan cuz she loves sugar cookies too and she's carrying Grandma's third.

On the rectangular tray: Fourteen cookies for Grandma cuz she loves them best and she needs to taste and make sure they're good enough for her Grandbabies after all :)

And finally: A cookie for the baker to try cuz she loves them too and she only needs one after "sampling" so much of the frosting :)

Dear Megan

I made the twelve smaller cookies for Gage and Tuscan. The rest are for your Mother's freezer to either be brought to you the next time your parents come to Bozeman or to be thawed and waiting for you the next time you come to Minot. I will be excusing myself of all responsibility for your receipt of these cookies the minute I hand them off :)

P.S. They are decorated for St. Patrick's Day because I originally thought your parents were going to be spending the holiday with you.

Mom @ 82

My Mom didn't look much like her Mother while she was growing up or even into her middle age. In the last 10 years or so, as she gets older, she looks more and more like Grandma Roll. Funny how those genes work, isn't it?
Now, I've, always looked like my Mom. Makes me wonder if I'll look more or less like her as I age.

Hump Day

I spent the entire morning reading and let me just say, I love my Kindle!!!
I finally got cleaned up and will be picking Gage up to take him to wrestling practice at 3:30PM. The best thing is that I'm meeting Kathy for dinner at 10 North Main tonight!! None of my other friends want to pay their prices and I'm not comfortable going out to dinner alone so I don't get there very often. I don't know what I'm going to have for an entree yet but I am definitely starting with their French Onion Soup! YUM!

Spring Is In The Air...

NOT!!!
This is not what you want to open your shades to on March 10th! When will it end??!!

Cutie Fly or Ode To McDowell's Big Boy

A cutie fly is a pizza burger made flying saucer style. Mostly, it's two slices of white bread, a hamburger patty, pizza sauce and cheese crimped and toasted with a pie iron. They were an institution when I was growing up and could be had at McDowell's Big Boy on South Broadway or Fourth Avenue. There was also one or two in Bismarck.

Sadly, the ones in Minot have been gone for years, but one in Bismarck is still open and every time you go past, there are cars lined up at least five deep to get through the drive in. I think it's still the original building too. And the funny thing is that it is just a drive in... as in you have to either take your food home to eat it or eat in your car in the parking lot. In the summer, they do have picnic tables so you can enjoy your meal outside and share with the annoying black birds that beg for scraps.

Almost every time I go to or drive through Bismarck, I try to finangle a way to stop at the Big Boy. Heck, I've even been known to drive the 110 miles down there just to go to the Big Boy. One year on my birthday, Jim said he'd buy me lunch anywhere I wanted to eat. You guessed it, we went to Bismarck. We drove down, had lunch and drove right back home again. I did giggle when our lunch bill came to $7 and some odd cents. I think the gas cost more than that.

Never a big fan of the cutie fly (I know, sacrilege to some) I almost always opt for an alpine burger... hamburger patty, swiss cheese and a sauce made from mixing Miracle Whip and yellow mustard. Imagine my surprise when I learned yesterday that they make alpine burgers "fly style." After all these years, who knew?

I took a picture of the one I brought home yesterday. They used to knock the crusts off the sides so it looked more like a flying saucer but I think they're way too busy churning out these taste sensations that they can't be bothered. Either that or there are some people who like the crusts. Yum, I can't wait for lunch! Of course, it won't be the same as it is when you're actually huddled in your car and dunking fresh hot fries in their yummy gravy but it'll have to do until I get back to Bismarck.

OMG!

David (the one on the left) has THE Jim Aiken look!! Amazing, especially since Jim died before David was even conceived.

Behold, the Lowly Rice Krispie Treat

I invited Joe & Shari, Matthew, Emily and my Mom over for dinner today for 5:00P.M. After church, I picked up and took lunch to Allison and ate with her, visited my Dad and my Grandma and went to the grocery store to pick up the groceries needed for dinner. I fried 22 pieces of chicken, cooked 5 pounds of potatoes to mash and made a vat of gravy. Biscuits and buttered corn rounded out the simple meal. Rice Krispie Treats were as good as I could manage for dessert :)

Bully Sticks

These are Stella's new favorite treat. I gave her one yesterday and she gnawed on it for a long time. And she's been carrying around the 2 inch piece that she has left since last night.

I'm kind of a freak but I am pretty strict about her food. The only human food she gets is a little peanut butter in a chew toy in the mornings. Other than that, it's all dog food. And I buy her high quality, all natural dog food and treats.

I picked the Bully Stick up at the pet store when I went to buy dog food yesterday. It was sitting in a box at the counter and you could buy them individually. Kind of like the candy in the check out lane at the grocery store, set there to tempt you :)

So I buy it and like I said, she loved it. It was quite costly to buy it that way so I Googled it, looking for a cheaper source. Here is what I found out:
So let's dot the i's and cross the t's - what are bully sticks made from? A bully stick, or what it is also called, a beef pizzle, beef stick, pizzle stick, steer stick, is 100% bull penis. Bull penis is the only ingredient of bully sticks.While processing, the bull's penis that is usually measures around 23-25 inches in length, is removed and cleaned. Manufactures of bully sticks hang the pizzles vertically to allow containing fluids to fully run out. Without these fluids the bully stick is odorless. At the next stage of processing bully sticks are stretched, twisted and then dried or/and smoked. The outcome is a 30-40 inches long hard brown stick which is then cut into pieces appropriate for dogs of all sizes. You can choose small bully sticks of 4'', large beef pizzles of 30'' and any length between.

Hmmmm, who knew? A pizzle??!!

P.S. There's a case of 25 winging its way to Stella even as I type :) Eeeeuwww!!

Yawn...

Just like every kid I've ever known, Stella seems to sense when I'd like to sleep in a little bit. Yeah, that would've been this morning. And again, like every kid I've ever met, she was having none of it.
Patty and I went to Happy Hour at the Strike last night and although we were home by 9:00PM, I sure would've liked to stay in bed until at least 7:00AM. But no, it was 5:45 this morning. I guess that's why God makes kids and puppies so cute. So you don't choke them when they don't conform to your plans.

Meatball Hoagies and Old Friends

Jean and I were best friends for quite a few years. In fact, her youngest daughter's middle name is Kathleen, after me. Over the years, we grew apart and now, sadly our paths very seldom cross. She was the other person who came to Allison's card class last night. We ate hoagies and cookies, caught up on old times and even got a bunch of cards made :)

Queen of the Mountain

Although a lot of the snow has melted, we still have a big snowbank in our front yard. After Stella does her business on the lower ground, she scrambles to the top of the highest snowbank to survey the neighborhood. She's almost as nosy as my neighbor across the street. Too bad she can't talk because then they could gossip about all the neighborhood happenings.

Project Night

Tonight, Allison is teaching a Stampin' Up class at my house. We will be making these four greeting cards and the cute little pouch to store them in. I plan to make several sets to keep on hand as gifts.

The class starts at 6:45 and there will only be three of us so I'm making homemade meatball hoagies with melted provolone on top :) We'll also be having the waffle turtle cookies I made last night.

Should be a good time!

This is the first year in a long time that I've not had a winter vacation to someplace warm. If I can help it, that'll never happen again. Carol and I have already booked this Celebrity cruise. It's later than I prefer but we saved over $400 apiece by going in March versus January. I've already been to all the ports except Costa Maya and Cozumel but I don't care, it'll be warm and I love the cruising experience.

Friday, March 19, 2010
Charleston, South Carolina
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Saturday, March 20, 2010
At Sea
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Sunday, March 21, 2010
Key West, Florida
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Monday, March 22, 2010
At Sea
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Costa Maya, Mexico
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Belize City, Belize
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Thursday, March 25, 2010
Cozumel, Mexico
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Friday, March 26, 2010
At Sea
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Saturday, March 27, 2010
Nassau, Bahamas
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Sunday, March 28, 2010
At Sea
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Monday, March 29, 2010
Charleston, South Carolina
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Shameless Grandma Post

Thomas James @ Three Months
(Would you look at the size of those hands??!!!)

Why Is It???

That if a stray Kleenex gets in your laundry, it's always in the navy load? Arghhh!!!

Waffle Turtle Cookies

I got his waffle iron for Christmas in 1976 from Jim's brother and sister-in-law. I can count on one hand how many times I've made waffles. However, I've made literally hundreds of cookies on it. This batch is for tomorrow night when Allison teaches a card class here.

BOYS!

Me: "Gage, you forgot to zip your jeans."
Gage: "Oh, no, my wanker's gonna hang out!"